CHEMISTRY NOW: Vinegar and Baking Soda Investigation (Grades 5-8)

Objective:

Students will be able to observe chemical changes: one in which a gas is produced and a change in temperature occurs, and one in which the substance is visibly changed.
Students will observe the temperature change in a chemical reaction.
Students will identify variables in an experiment; design and carry out an experiment, collect and analyze their data; and draw conclusions based on their data and observations.

Procedure:

1. Put the names of the following substances on the board and ask the students what makes up these substances—what are the reactants and what is the product? How are the elements different from the substances they make when they are combined?

Water Sodium Chloride Carbon dioxide

2. Review with students the steps of the scientific method. In this investigation, students will explore the chemical and physical properties of baking soda and vinegar and the chemical reaction that occurs between these two substances.

3. This activity introduces these substances and the reaction between them:

a. Obtain a small, clear, plastic soda bottle.

b. Measure 50 ml of vinegar in a graduated cylinder.

c. Measure 2 g of baking soda.

d. Place the baking soda in the bottle and pour in the vinegar. Observe the reaction that occurs. Be sure to touch the bottle to feel the temperature change.

4. As a concluding discussion, begin with a leading question and some follow-up questions:

•Did you notice a temperature change? (At this point, define ‘exothermic’ and ‘endothermic’ with the students.)

•What was produced from this chemical reaction?

•What are the physical properties of vinegar and baking soda?

•How do these properties change when the two substances react?

•What kind of investigation can we do to learn more about these substances and/or this reaction?

•How can we measure some of the changes taking place?

5. Some possible researchable questions include the following:

•What is the density of vinegar?

•What is the pH of vinegar?

•What is the boiling point of vinegar?

•How does the temperature of the vinegar change when it reacts with baking soda?

•What gas is produced?

•How does the odor of the vinegar change during this reaction?

•How does the pH of the vinegar change during this reaction?

•How can the temperature change be maximized?

•How can the quantity of gas formed be maximized?

6. Some possible alternate or additional procedures:How can we investigate temperature change and pH change?

a. Temperature change during the reaction:

• Obtain a reaction vessel.

• Measure 50 ml of vinegar and place it in the vessel.

• Measure and record the initial temperature of the vinegar.

• Discuss with the class: Now we know that adding baking soda will create a chemical reaction and a temperature change. Can you design an experiment that will answer the question: Can we get to a final temperature? Ask the students to design this experiment and discuss before implementing. Then allow students to implement the procedure and record results.

b. Change in pH of vinegar during the reaction:

• Same basic procedure as above for temperature change but measuring the pH of the vinegar initially, and after the reaction occurs. Ask students to design an experiment that will demonstrate changes in pH. What variables in their experiment have to be changed to change the pH? Discuss their possible experiments and then implement and record results.

7. After the students have finished their investigations, they should be able to present their data and observations in appropriate data tables and/or graphs. They should be able to identify their variables and their controls. They should be able to explain what they learned through their research and investigations.

8. Students may present their findings to their classmates in a slide show or on a poster.

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